Fishponds
Ancient Hawaiians were the first islanders in the Pacific to make use of ponds and fish farming. Hawaiians developed aquaculture to supplement their other fishing activities. Permanent fishponds guaranteed a food supply for the population in lean times and increased the wealth of the managing chief. Tended ponds provided fish without requiring fishing expertise and harvesting the pond - unlike fishing at sea - was not weather-dependent.

Hawaiians built fishponds on Kaua`i, O`ahu, Lana`i, Maui, and Moloka`i with the highest concentration of ponds on Moloka`i. Hawai`i island had the fewest ponds due to its abrupt coast and lack of reef and lagoons.